Brazil’s President Lula invites Uruguay to participate in the BRICS summit for broad international discussions on multilateralism and free trade. Additionally, Uruguay’s accession to the New Development Bank is in the final stages, as clarified by President Orsi, who emphasized that this does not imply membership in BRICS. Uruguay aims to maintain good relations with the United States amid these considerations.
President Lula of Brazil has extended an invitation to Uruguay and other countries to engage in the BRICS summit, emphasizing the significance of global debate and participation, even for non-member nations. He highlighted the essence of strengthening both multilateralism and free trade, asserting that without these elements, democracy cannot thrive. Lula stated, “The BRICS are not a small thing… they have almost half of humanity…” underscoring the bloc’s substantial economic influence.
In a related development, President Yamandu Orsi of Uruguay met with Dilma Rousseff, the president of the New Development Bank (NDB) of BRICS, where Rousseff indicated that Uruguay’s accession process is nearly complete, pending approval from the country’s legislative bodies. Orsi remarked that Uruguay, while accustomed to historical cooperative mechanisms, views this process as new and distinct from joining BRICS. He clarified, “This proposal has nothing to do with joining the Brics and that Uruguay is not in it and will not be in it,” yet he expressed an openness to exploration of bilateral opportunities.
Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin reiterated the Uruguayan government’s commitment to maintaining strong relations with the United States, which has been wary of the BRICS association. This reflects a broader context of careful diplomatic navigation amidst shifting geopolitical alignments, where Uruguay seeks to balance its international affiliations while expressing interest in emerging economic collaborations.
In summary, President Lula of Brazil has urged Uruguay’s participation in the BRICS summit, emphasizing the importance of multilateralism and free trade. While Uruguay’s accession to the NDB of BRICS is nearing completion, President Orsi has clarified that this does not equate to membership in BRICS itself. Furthermore, the Uruguayan government intends to uphold its favorable relations with the United States amidst these developments, signaling a strategic approach to its foreign policy.
Original Source: www.plenglish.com
